Overview
- Paul Weiss named corporate dealmaker Scott Barshay as chairman effective immediately, while Karp remains at the firm focused on client work.
- Justice Department files show email exchanges from 2015 to 2019, including dinners at Epstein’s New York townhouse and a 2016 request to help Karp’s son work on a Woody Allen film.
- A March 3, 2019 email shows Karp reviewed and praised a draft motion arguing Epstein’s earlier plea should not be reopened.
- The firm said neither Paul Weiss nor Karp represented Epstein and that the contacts stemmed from work for client Leon Black, describing the firm as adverse to Epstein.
- Karp’s departure follows heightened reputational scrutiny that also referenced a contested 2025 deal with the White House, and reporting to date does not allege criminal conduct by Karp.